There’s been some sad news in Scarborough this week about two teen-aged boys who were swimming in a condo pool. One of the boys died, while media reports the other is in hospital.
These are not the first drownings (or near-drownings) of the season – and past years statistics indicate they will likely not be the last.
An average of 400 Canadians drown each year. A Red Cross research report examining 10 years of drowning statistics showed that young children ages 1 to 4 and men ages 15 to 44 are at the greatest risk of drowning
This week, we’ve had several requests from the media – including CBC and Dr. Karl from CP24 - to comment on water safety and provide tips to the general public.
Here are some of the tips we’ve been sharing:
Tip #1: Install an automatic self-closing, self-latching gate
This kind of gate could eliminate nearly all pool drownings of toddlers, prevent about 10% of all drownings in Canada, and save about 50 lives of 1-4 year-old children each year.
Tip #2: Be cautious about toys
Children’s water wings or inflatable floating rings are toys, not safety devices. Be careful with air mattresses, as children can become trapped under them. And remove all toys from the pool after playtime is over; they can tempt children to the edge of the pool.
Tip #3: Dive with Care
About 95% of diving injuries occur in water 5 feet deep or less. Many, perhaps most, in-ground home pools are unsafe for diving, even if they are fitted with a diving board. The best safety practice is to avoid diving in home pools.
Tip #4: Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol is involved in about half of swimming drownings. Avoid alcohol when swimming or diving, since even small amounts can increase the risk of injury.
Tip #5: Get Trained
All Canadians – especially children -- should learn to swim. Those with home pools should also enrol in a first aid course, so they know how to respond in case of emergency.